Abdominal support



March 31, 1931. P 1,798,368

ABDOMINAL SUPPORT Filed July 8, 1929 ZSheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Q Jamae/A kW @14- H mwypz M ATTORNEY- March 31, 1931. 5, H CAMP 1,798,368

ABDOMINAL SUPPORT Filed July 8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Gil/9'3- 1; 4mm gm? ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 31, 1931 PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL H. CAMP, 0F JACKSON, MICHIGAN ABDOMINAL SUPPORT Application filed July 8,

This invention relates to abdominal supports and has as an object to provlde a garment, having a relatively rigid reinforclng member adapted to localize the pressure of the garment and having means for adjusting the pressure of the reinforcing member anc for also adjusting the pressure of the garment adjacent the reinforcing member.

The invention further contemplates the provision of an adjusting means for a remforcing member of the character described, which means will act to distribute the pressure equally along the edges of the reinforcing member and which will be capable of association with a garment without in any way weakening the garment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly when reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure 1 is a back plan view of a garment in an extended position showing the invention applied to the same;

Referring now particularly to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout all views,

there is illustrated in Figure 1 a belt or abdominal supporting garment formed of two sections 10 and 11 connected together at the back by-the lacing 12 in a manner hereinafter to be more fully described. For the purpose of illustration, the section 11 has been dividedin order that the garment might be shown in extended position. At the front the sections 10 and 11 are connected by quick detachment means such as the snap fasteners 13. Associated with the front of the garment,

is a reinforcing member 1 1 adapted to localize the pressure of the garment over a pre determined desired area. This member is of stiffer materialthan the body of the garme'nt and may be conveniently formed of 1929. Serial No. 376,653.

light sheet metal enclosed in a suitable cloth cover.

For adjusting the pressure of the reinforcing member there is provided a pair of straps 15, connected to the edges of the reinforcing member as by the lacings 16. In order that the lacings may pass through the garment without weakening the same, eyelets 17 are formed in the garment adjacent the reinforcing member. The reinforcing member is provided adjacent its edges with the eyelets 18 through which the cords of the lacings extend so that the pressure exerted on the reinforcing member through the lacings is distributed along the edges of the reinforcing member. The lacings 16 are preferably arranged in such a manner that the pull on the straps 15 will be transmitted to the reinforcingmember with an increased force and the lacings are further arranged in such a manner that the pressure of the garment adjacent the reinforcing member will also be adjusted when the pressure of the reinforcing member is adjusted. Accordingly, each lacing includes a cord 19, secured in an eyelet 20, in the end of its respective strap member. From the eyelet 20, the cord extends freely through one of the eyelets 17 through one of the eyelets 18 in the reinforcing member and then back to the garment where it is looped through two of a series of eyelets 21 formed in the garment adjacent the eyelets 17. From eyelets 21, the cord is extended freely through another eyelet 18 and then back to the strap 15. The manner of lacing is such that the transversely extending portions 22, of the lacing do not move when the strap 15 is pulled to vary the pressure of the member 14. Thus, a leverage effect is obtained by which a relatively long pull on the strap 15 causes a relatively small movement of the member 14, but increases the force of this movement. Further, the transversely extending portions 22 of the lacing act to draw the garment inwardly adjacent the reinforcing member when the straps 15 are pulled to increase the pressure of the reinforcin member. 7

As illustrated, the straps 15 preferably connected to thelacing 12 3a adjust the latterwhen the pressure of the reinforcing member is adjusted. Thus, each strap is provided with a slide buckle 25, provided wit-h the eyelets 26. The lacing is extended from the buckle 25, through the eyelets 27, of the section 11, then through the eyelets 28, of the section 10, and then to the eyelets 26' of the other buckle 25. This is continued until the lacing has been extended through all of the eyelets in the manner illustrated, resulting in the production of a leverage effect whereby a movement of the straps is converted into a lesser movement of the garment sections. It will be clearly understood that the free ends of the straps are extended through the slide buckles so that the straps may be adjusted by merely pulling on the free ends of the same.

From the above it is believed that the structure and use of the invention will be readily apparent. The reinforcing member 14 will function to accentuate the pressure of the garment over a predetermined desired area and by exerting a pull of the straps 15 the pressure of the reinforcing member may be increased. Further, as the pressure of the reinforcing member is increased, the garment will be drawn inwardly adjacent the reinforcing member by the portions 22 of the lacings 16. The eyelets 17 in the garment permit the lacings to pass through the garment without weakening the same, while the eyelets 18 in the reinforcing member distribute the pull of the straps along the edges of the reinforcing member.

In Figure 3, a slightly modified form of construction is shown wherein the reinforcing member 14 is connected directly to the adjusting straps 15 by means of the lacings 30. Each lacing includes a cord 31, anchored at its one end in an eyelet 32 on the end of its respective strap. The cord extends from the eyelet 32 freely through one of a series of eyelets 33 in the garment and is then looped through two of a series of eyelets 34: in the reinforcing member. The cord is then returned backwardly through another of the series of eyelets 33 in the garment to the end of the strap, this lacing being continued through all of the eyelets in the manner illustrated. Thus, the pull on the straps 15 will be transmitted directly to the edges of the re-enforcing member without any increase in force. Further, in this form of construction, the garment will not be drawn inwardly adjacent the reinforcing member when the pressure of the latter is increased.

lVhile the invention has been described with considerable detail, it is to be greatly understood that the description is not defini tive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right therefore, is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview .of the attached claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An abdominal support comprising a garment, a relatively rigid reinforcing member associated with said garment for accentuating the pressure thereof over a predetermined area, and means for adjusting the pressure of said reinforcing member and for simultaneously adjusting the pressure of said garment adjacent said reinforcing member, said means including a pair of straps and lacings connecting the ends of said straps to the edges of said reinforcing member, said lacings being connected intermediate their ends to the said garment adjacent the reinforcing member.

2. An abdominal support comprising a garment, a relatively rigid reenforcing member associated with said garment for accentuating the pressure thereof over a predetermined area, and means for adjusting the pressure of said reinforcing member and for simultaneously adjusting the pressure of said garment adjacent said reinforcing member, said means including a pair of adjusting straps and lacings anchored to said straps and having looped portions extending through eyelets in said garment and in the edges of said reinforcing member, said loop portions being anchored at their other ends to said garment whereby the pull exerted on said straps is transmitted to said reinforcing member with an increased force.

3. An abdominal support comprising a garment having two sections, lacings connecting said sections, a relatively rigid reinforcing member associated with the garment, lacings extending through said member and garment, adjusting straps free with respect to said garment and having eyelets receiving the last mentioned lacings, and buckles adjust-able on said straps and having eyelets receiving the first mentioned lacings.

4. An abdominal support comprising a garment having two sections, a relatively rigid reinforcing member movable relative to the garment, adjusting straps free relative to the garment, buckles adjustable on said straps, a connection between said sections including means connected to said buckles, and a connection between said member and garment including means connected to and movable with the straps.

5. An abdominal support comprising a garment having two sections, a relatively rigid reinforcing member movable over one section, an adjusting strap movable freely relative to said garment, a buckle adjustable on said strap, lacings connecting said sections and having portions extending through said buckle, and lacings connecting said reinforcing member and strap and having portions extending through said garment.

6. An abdominal support comprising a garment having two sections, lacings connecting said sections, a relatively rigid reinforcing member associated with and movable relative to said garment, an adjusting strap freely movable relative to the garment between the lacings aforesaid and said reinforcing member, a buckle adjustable on said strap and having eyelets receiving portions of the lacing, and lacing connecting said reinforcing member and strap, said lac-' ing having portions extending over the outer face of said reinforcing member and having other portions extending through said garment. w

7. An abdominal support comprising a garment having two sections, a relatively rigid reinforcing member associated With one of said sections, an adjusting strap freely movable relative to said garment, a buckle adjustable on said strap, and two sets of lacings associated with said strap, one lacing connecting together the sections of the garment and having portions connected to the buckle, and the other lacing serving as a connection between the reinforcing member and strap and having portions extending through the garment.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

SAMUEL H. CAMP. 

